U.S. patent number 5,485,693 [Application Number 08/215,901] was granted by the patent office on 1996-01-23 for hinged support panel display prism.
This patent grant is currently assigned to M & V Reklametechnik Schoning-Krieg. Invention is credited to Egbert Frenken, Michael Schoning.
United States Patent |
5,485,693 |
Frenken , et al. |
January 23, 1996 |
Hinged support panel display prism
Abstract
A display device of the type having a plurality of parallel
prisms that rotate intermittently and synchronously to present the
surfaces of the different panels of each prism for view to provide
different composite advertising designs. All the prisms are
identical and each is formed with three identical panels that are
rectangular and extend longitudinally of the prism. The panels have
hinge sections formed integrally along their edges for meshing with
hinge sections of adjacent panels in a piano-hinge-like
arrangement. A removable hinge pin is disposed in at least one
hinge connection so that upon removal of the hinge pin the adjacent
panel can be swung open to allow access to the interior of the
prism for changing a burned out illuminating device, such as a
fluorescent or neon light.
Inventors: |
Frenken; Egbert (Heinsberg,
DE), Schoning; Michael (Heinsberg, DE) |
Assignee: |
M & V Reklametechnik
Schoning-Krieg (Heinsberg, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
6492539 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/215,901 |
Filed: |
March 22, 1994 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 12, 1993 [DE] |
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43 23 200.0 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
40/505; 16/365;
16/386; 40/503 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F
11/025 (20130101); Y10T 16/557 (20150115); Y10T
16/546 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
11/02 (20060101); G09F 11/00 (20060101); G09F
011/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;362/282,812
;40/502,503,504,505,506 ;16/365,386,346 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Silbermann; Joanne
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Shefte, Pinckney & Sawyer
Claims
We claim:
1. A display device for displaying designs comprising:
(a) at least one assembled prism having at least three rectangular
side panels having display surfaces thereon and extending parallel
to the axis of said assembled prism, each said panel having two
longitudinal edges and two ends with adjacent panels connected to
each other along their respective adjacent longitudinal edges;
(b) end pieces each attached to a said end of at least one of two
said panels to form with all said panels said assembled prism;
(c) a hinge joining a first panel to an adjacent third panel along
adjacent longitudinal edges thereof;
(d) means releasably securing said third panel to an adjacent
second panel along the longitudinal edge of said third panel
opposite said hinge to allow opening of said third panel relative
to said end pieces for accessing the interior of said assembled
prism, wherein said end pieces remain attached to said at least one
other than said third panel;
(e) means for rotating said assembled prism about its axis to
present said panels individually for view; and
(f) illuminating means including at least one replaceable
illuminating element disposed within said assembled prism to
illuminate said panels and being replaceable when said third panel
is open.
2. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said releasably
securing means comprises a substantially continuous hinge extending
substantially the length of said panels and including a removable
hinge pin.
3. A display device according to claim 2 wherein said hinge pin is
flexible and capable of bending away from the axis of the hinge
during removal and insertion of said hinge pin.
4. A display device according to claim 2 wherein said first and
said second panels are secured together by an immobilized
hinge.
5. A display device according to claim 4 wherein said immobilized
hinge is substantially continuous the length of said longitudinal
edges of said panels.
6. A display device according to claim 5 wherein each of said
hinges has sections secured to longitudinal edges of adjacent
panels.
7. A display device according to claim 6 wherein said at least
three panels with their respective hinge sections secured thereto
are identical and interchangeable.
8. A display device according to claim 5 wherein said panels and
said hinges are translucent.
9. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said panels are
translucent.
10. A display device according to claim 1 wherein each said prism
comprises an equilateral triangle in its cross section and wherein
said illuminating element is mounted at a spacing from the axis of
the prism along a median line of said equilateral triangle cross
section prism away from the side of an observer of an advertisement
on the advertising device.
11. A display device for displaying advertisements, comprising:
(a) at least one assembled prism, each said assembled prism having
at least three rectangular display panels that extend parallel to
the axis of said assembled prism, each said panel having two
longitudinal edges and two ends with adjacent panels connected to
each other along their respective adjacent longitudinal edges,
(b) end pieces each attached to a said end of at least one of said
panels to form the bases of said assembled prism, said end pieces
and said at least one attached panel forming a support structure of
said assembled prism, all of said panels and said end pieces
defining an interior space within said assembled prism, and
(c) a plurality of hinges, each said hinge connecting two
longitudinal edges of two said adjacent panels together, at least
one hinge of said plurality of hinges having a removable hinge pin,
and at least one other hinge of said plurality of hinges being
operational for door-like movement of at least one connected panel
about said operational hinge,
(d) wherein said at least one connected panel is openable in
door-like fashion when said hinge pin is removed from said at least
one hinge for accessing the interior space of said prism without
disassembling said support structure of said assembled prism.
12. A display device according to claim 11, wherein at least one
said hinge pin is flexible and capable of bending away from the
axis of a said hinge during removal and insertion of said hinge
pin, thereby permitting easy removal and insertion of said hinge
pin within said hinge.
13. A display device according to claim 12 further comprising
illuminating means disposed within the interior space of said
assembled prism to illuminate said panels and including at least
one replaceable illuminating element, said panels being translucent
and said illuminating element being replaceable when said at least
one connected panel is opened, and means for rotating said
assembled prism about its axis to represent said panels for
individual viewing, said means located outside of the interior
space of said assembled prism.
14. A display device according to claim 13, wherein all said panels
are individually identical and interchangeable and all said hinges
are individually identical and interchangeable.
15. A display device according to claim 13, wherein all said panels
and all said hinges are translucent.
16. A display device according to claim 13 wherein each said
assembled prism comprises an equilateral triangle in its cross
section and wherein said illuminating element is mounted at a
spacing from the axis of said assembled prism along a median line
of said equilateral triangle cross section away from the side of an
observer of an advertisement on the advertising device.
17. A display device according to claim 11 further comprising
illuminating means disposed within the interior space of said
assembled prism to illuminate said panels and including at least
one replaceable illuminating element, said illuminating element
being replaceable when said at least one connected panel is opened,
and wherein at least one of said panels is translucent.
18. A display device according to claim 17 wherein said assembled
prism comprises an equilateral triangle in its cross section and
wherein said illuminating element is mounted at a spacing from the
axis of said assembled prism along a median line of said
equilateral triangle cross section away from the side of an
observer of an advertisement on the advertising device.
19. A display device according to claim 11, and further
comprising:
illuminating means disposed within the interior space of said
assembled prism to illuminate all said panels and including at
least one replaceable illuminating element, said replaceable
illuminating element being replaceable when said connected panel is
opened, and
means for rotating said assembled prism about its axis to represent
said panels for individual viewing, said means located outside of
the interior space of said assembled prism,
wherein at least one said hinge pin is flexible and capable of
bending away from the axis of a said hinge during removal and
insertion of said hinge pin, thereby permitting easy removal and
insertion of said hinge pin within said hinge,
and wherein each said prism comprises an equilateral triangle in
its cross section and wherein said illuminating element is mounted
at a spacing from the axis of said assembled prism along a median
line of said equilateral triangle cross section away from the side
of an observer of an advertisement on the advertising device, and
wherein all said panels are individually identical and
interchangeable, all said hinges are individually identical and
interchangeable, and all said panels and all said hinges are
translucent, thereby providing for shadow-free illumination of
advertising on said panels.
20. A display device for displaying advertisements, comprising:
at least one prism having at least three rectangular side panels
having display surfaces thereon and extending parallel to the axis
of said prism, said panels having two longitudinal edges and two
ends with adjacent panels connected to each along said longitudinal
edges;
end pieces attached to said ends of at least two of said panels to
form the bases of said prism;
said two panels being secured together along their adjacent
longitudinal edges;
a hinge joining one of said two panels to an adjacent third panel
along adjacent longitudinal edges thereof;
means releasably securing said third panel to an adjacent panel
along the longitudinal edge of said third panel opposite said hinge
for accessing the interior of said prism; and
illuminating means including at least one replaceable illuminating
element disposed within said prism to illuminate said panels and
being replaceable when said prism is opened;
wherein said prism comprises an equilateral triangle in its cross
section and wherein said illuminating element is mounted at a
spacing from the axis of the prism along a median line of said
equilibrium triangle cross section away from the side of an
observer of an advertisement on the advertising device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an advertising device for advertising
designs that change by having a plurality of rotatable prisms which
are each preferably triangular, with the surfaces of the prisms
being exposed sequentially for view with corresponding surfaces of
other prisms in the device to present different advertising
displays upon rotation of the prisms and with each prism being
illuminated from inside as by a stationary lamp.
Prism advertising devices of this general type are known in the
industry. The prism may be disposed horizontally or vertically for
display. In large advertising panels taller than approximately 2
meters the prisms are normally disposed vertically, preferably
suspended from the upper end, for the sake of mechanical stability.
The rectangular panels of each triangular prism are joined together
by an equilateral triangular base at each end to stabilize the
arrangement. The drive for pivoting the prism generally engages one
of these triangular bases, one of which usually has an opening
through which the mount and the power supply of an illumination
device, such as a fluorescent or neon lamp, extends for mounting
the illuminating device within the prism. The lamp remains
stationary when the prism is pivoted. The pivoting is intermittent
with all of the prisms pivoting simultaneously to present
advertising surfaces across the device for viewing in a composite
design.
The lamps used in the advertising devices described have a limited,
and usually highly variable, service life. Accordingly, lamps fail
without predictability. In prior devices, a failed lamp has to be
pulled out through one end of the prism, and the new lamp is
introduced into the prism in the same way.
The advertising device of the type described can be produced in
considerable size, for instance with a height of from 1 meter to 6
meters and a width of from 2 meters to 20 meters. As noted, in
relatively large advertising panels the prisms are preferably
disposed vertically next to one another. If an advertising device
of this kind is designed for operation in the open air, then the
prisms and particularly the region above each prism must be
carefully protected against the effects of weather in order to
protect the mechanical and electrical parts. If a lamp in one prism
fails, then the entire prism has to be dismantled so that the lamp
can be pulled out of the prism. If the cover on the top of the
prism of an advertising wall has to be removed, ladders are needed
in order to pull the lamp out at the top or insert a lamp into the
prism from the top. Hence the effort and expense for changing a
lamp is considerable--and the situation is quite similar even when
the prism is horizontally supported.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to replace illumination
devices in such prisms without the requirement that special prism
panels for the prism be used, and, which preferably allows the use
of entirely identical rectangular panels for all sides of the
prism, and allows at least one of the prism panels to open like a
door for access to the interior of the prism to replace burned out
lamps without dismantling the entire prism.
This and other objects of the present invention are accomplished
with a display device for displaying designs having at least one
prism, which has at least three rectangular side panels having
display surfaces thereon and extending parallel to the axis of the
at least one prism. Each panel has two longitudinal edges and two
ends with adjacent panels connected to each other along the
longitudinal edges. Bases are attached to the ends of at least two
of the panels to form the bases of the at least one prism, with the
two panels being rigidly secured together along their adjacent
longitudinal edges. A hinge joins one of the two panels to an
adjacent third panel along adjacent longitudinal edges thereof.
Means releasably secure the third panel to an adjacent panel along
the longitudinal edge of the third panel opposite the hinged edge
to allow opening of the third panel for access to the interior of
the at least one prism. A device rotates the at least one prism
about its axis to present the panels individually for view. An
illuminating device including at least one replaceable illuminating
element disposed within the at least one prism illuminates the
panels and is replaceable when the third panel is open.
The releasably securing means may include a hinge extending
substantially continuously along the length of the panel edges. The
hinge is secured directly to the respective longitudinal edges of
the adjacent panels after the panels have been fabricated. The
hinges are preferably formed as continuous tubes and can be secured
to the longitudinal edge of one panel, and then at least one
section of each tube is cut out and secured to the adjacent panel
in such a manner that the sections mesh with one another to
hingedly secure the panels together upon insertion of a hinge pin
through the tube sections.
The prism may comprise an equilateral triangle in cross section and
the illuminating device mounted in the interior may be disposed
relative to the intersection of a median line of the equilateral
triangle cross section of the prism away from the side of an
observer of an advertisement on the advertising device, preferably
approximately to the center of the median line aligned with the
observer.
The hinge between the second and third panels may have a hinge pin
that is removable to allow separation of the hinge and the opening
of the third panel. This hinge pin is substantially continuous
along the longitudinal edge of the panel and is preferably flexible
for bending away from the axis of the hinge during removal and
insertion of the hinge pin.
The two rigidly secured panels may be secured by an immobilized
hinge which may be substantially continuous substantially along the
length of the longitudinal edge.
Preferably, the panels and hinges are translucent. The at least
three panels including each hinge mounted thereon may be identical
and interchangeable upon assembly, resulting in simplified
manufacturing and reduced inventory requirements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vertically arranged prism;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view of an advertising device with a
plurality of prisms disposed side by side;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of three identical, single prism
panels aligned in a common plane prior to assembly to produce a
prism of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an end view of the prism of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a prism with a panel opened.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The prism of FIG. 1 is a rotatable triangular prism 4 of an
advertising device having three rectangular panels 1, two
triangular end pieces or bases 3 connected to the ends of the
panels with openings 2. A gear wheel 6 is mounted on one of the
bases 3 with the aid of a ring flange 5. Meshing with the gear
wheel 6 is a worm 7 with a drive shaft 8, the worm being positioned
in the advertising device in a manner that is hidden in FIG. 2. The
axis of the gear wheel 6 coincides with the axis of the prism 4. A
mount 9 with an integrated power lead extends through the open
middle of the gear wheel 6 and the opening 2 in the base 3. An
illuminating device, such as a fluorescent tube 11, is mounted on
the mount 9 inside the prism 4, in combination with a mechanical
deflector 10. Depending on the embodiment and size of the prism 4,
a series of fluorescent tubes-may be arranged longitudinally or
parallel in the prism 4. The mount 9 and the fluorescent tube 11
remain stationary during rotation of the prism 4.
It may be preferred that the fluorescent tube 11 is located some
distance behind the prism axis 13 to result in better display of
the advertisement depending upon where an observer is viewing the
advertisement. Preferably, the fluorescent tube 11 may be
positioned approximately in the middle of the median line 14 of the
equilateral triangle cross section of the prism 4 with the median
line aligned with the observer. Thus, the prism face toward the
observer can be more evenly lighted than if the light source were
disposed on the prism axis.
FIG. 2 shows an advertising device 15 with a number of prisms 4 of
FIG. 1 arranged vertically side-by-side. Around the advertising
face 16 formed of the rectangular panels 1 of the prisms 4, the
advertising device has a frame having sides 17, a top 18 and a
bottom 19. This frame serves not only an aesthetic purpose but also
to protect against the penetration of dust and similar dirt, and
also, in an outdoor display, to protect against the effects of
weather.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, each prism
4 of FIG. 1 or 2 comprises three identical rectangular panels 1 as
shown in FIG. 3 and two identical triangular bases 3 as shown in
FIG. 4, each secured, as by adhesive, to the ends of two of the
panels 1a and 1b. In the illustrated embodiment, each rectangular
panel 1 has a tubular hinge formed in sections 22,23 substantially
along the length of the longitudinal edges 20,21 thereof. The
distribution of the hinge sections 22,23 along the longitudinal
edges 20,21 is selected such that the hinge sections 22,23 of
adjacent panels mesh with one another. A flexible, preferably
translucent, rod 24, acting as a hinge pin, is inserted into the
hinge sections 22,23 in such a way that the rectangular panels 1
are secured together as if by a piano hinge. As assembly continues,
one triangular end piece 3 is inserted into each long end of the
prism 4 made up by three rectangular panels 1 to be joined
together, and these triangular panels are joined firmly, for
instance either directly via the materials involved or by screwing,
to the aforementioned two adjacent rectangular panels 1a,1b. It is
understood that the same two panels 1 are joined along the long
edges of the prism 4 with the triangular base 3, while the third
panel 1c is intended to rest loosely against the adjoining edge 25
of the triangular base as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 illustrates the
bonding 26 between the two rectangular panels 1a,1b and the
triangular base 3. The third rectangular panel 1 c shown in FIG. 5
is openable in the manner of a door. In the secured state, it
contacts the triangular base 3 along the adjacent side 25 of the
base.
The prism 4 according to the invention, like any prism
conventionally used in the advertising device, has three
superficially identically embodied long edges, but the three edges
have different mechanical functions. The prism edge 27 between the
rectangular panels 1a,1b has its hinge sections 22,23 adhesively
bonded together to form an immobilized rigid hinge. The sections
22,23 joined together by the hinge pin 24 serve merely to keep the
edges of the prism firmly secured together. The prism edge 28 and
its hinge sections 22,23 and hinge pin 24 form a releasable lock.
Preferably it is only at this point that the elastic pin 24 is
utilized, in such a way that it can be pulled out of the hinge
sections 22,23 longitudinally of the hinge. Only at the prism edge
29 does the piano-hinge-like hinge running substantially the length
of the edge have its actual function, namely making the rectangular
panel 1 contacting side 25 of the triangular base 3 operate as a
door to the interior of prism 4.
For the observer, all three long edges of the prism look identical;
when the panels intermesh with one another accurately (i.e.
substantially without spacing between one another), they look and
function like smooth edges. If the hinge sections and hinge pin are
made of substantially the same material as the other parts of the
prism, they have a shadow-free effect and are just as
corrosion-free as the prism itself.
The flexibility of the hinge pin is important in the context of the
present invention so that it can be pulled out past the hinge
sections and threaded into the hinge sections again while
deflecting or bending around the top or bottom of the frame above
or below (or laterally of) the installed prism. Optionally, the
assembler can accordingly pull the hinge pin--virtually like a
stiff cord--out of its seat in its hinge sections on one side of
the prism panel that acts as a door, bending it around so as to
circumvent the peripheral parts of the advertising surface such as
the frame. This means, for instance, that even with vertical
positioning of the prisms tall ladders are therefore not needed,
the assembler merely having to be able to reach as far as the upper
or lower end of the piano-hinge-like hinge and pull the hinge pin
out of its seat or thrust it into the seat.
Further according to the invention, the rectangular panels can be
fabricated in either of two ways. First, the hinges can be mounted
directly, by adhesive, to the edges of the rectangular panels after
the panels have been produced. The hinge sections should then be
put in place at a predetermined spacing, for instance being welded
on or adhesively bonded on, in such a way that when the prism is
put together the sections intermesh with one another as accurately
as possible. Second, and preferably, when the rectangular panels
are produced the hinge sections can initially be formed as
continuous, one-piece tubes along the edges of a panel. Upon
extrusion, the rectangular panels can thus be made with continuous
hinge tubes along their edges, in a relatively uncomplicated way.
Once these panels, extruded in the form of a practically endless
strip, have been finished, parts of each tube formed on the edge of
the panel are then removed to form meshing hinge sections in
adjacent panels in the manner of the sections of a piano hinge.
In summary, the invention is based on the need to avoid the effort
and expense of replacing an illuminating device in one of the
prisms of an advertising device. The effort and expense are reduced
according to the invention if one of the rectangular panels 1 that
makes up the prism 4 can be removed from the prism or folded open
like a door relative to the interior of the prism. At first, it
would appear that the panels forming the prism would have to be
embodied differently from one another, resulting in more expensive
fabrication, inventory and spare parts procurement. However, the
invention described above avoids these problems with an assembly
calling for identical rectangular panels with integral hinge
sections.
It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in
the art that the present invention is susceptible of a broad
utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the
present invention other than those herein described, as well as
many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements will be
apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and
the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the
substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the
present invention has been described herein in detail in relation
to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this
disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present
invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and
enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is
not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or
otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations,
variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present
invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the
equivalents thereof.
* * * * *